Wet track not a problem for Panthers

It’s going to take more than a wet track to slow down the Class 4A defending state champion Panthers. They proved that on Friday by winning the 16-team Eagle Bank Relays with a total of 148.45 points ¬ 29.5 ahead of runner-up Cabot.

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By Will Gilbert/Sports Editor

The Sun-Times - Heber Springs, AR

By Will Gilbert/Sports Editor

Posted Apr. 25, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 29, 2012 at 11:10 AM

By Will Gilbert/Sports Editor

Posted Apr. 25, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 29, 2012 at 11:10 AM

Heber Springs, Ark.

It’s going to take more than a wet track to slow down the Class 4A defending state champion Panthers. They proved that on Friday by winning the 16-team Eagle Bank Relays with a total of 148.45 points ¬ 29.5 ahead of runner-up Cabot.

Junior Ethan Bly led the Panthers with 25 points as he placed 2nd in the 200 (23.23), 2nd in 400 (52.73), 4th in long jump (19’5.5”) and 5th in shot put (40’11”).

Clint Ligon won the long jump (21’2.5”) and triple jump (44’), while Jake Sanders won the 1600 (4:38.69) and took runner-up in 3200 (10:17.59).

Heber’s 4 x 400 relay team of Jordan Peterson, Jessie Hood, Bly and Austin Schmidt won first place with a time of 3:38.58 and teammates Logan Henley, Daniel Henley, Andrew Powell and Logan Goddard took 5th in the race with a mark of 3:53.85.

Heber also won the 4 x 800 relay as Schmidt, Brock Ballard, Blake Leonard and Sanders finished with a time of 8:26.65.

Peterson placed 2nd in the 400 (52.73), 3rd in 100 (11.79) and 4th in 200 (23.36), while Hood also placed in the 400 (3rd, 52.95), just behind Peterson.

Zack McArthur finished 4th in the 800 (2:05.65) in front of Leonard (5th, 2:06.04). Following Sanders’ first-place finish in the mile, Powell took 6th (4:48.44) and Devin Redding was 8th (4:57.37). Powell also placed in the 3200 (6th, 10:47.59).

Jorge Garcia snatched 3rd in the 300 hurdles (43.76) and Chance Donaldson finished 5th in the 110 hurdles (18.94). Cody Ellis tied for 3rd in the high jump (5’4”), Garcia took 7th in the triple jump (36’2”), Nate Hills was 6th in the shot put (39’ 7.25) and Jason Hammons placed 8th in discus (102’4”).

Rounding out Heber’s point total, the 4 x 100 relay team of Tylor Alaniz, Drake Ricardi, Bly and Henley finished 5th with a time of 48.26.

Mary Simmons won the 800 (2:32.99) to lead the Lady Panthers, while Paige Vandivor placed 2nd in the 300 hurdles (54.40) and 4th in the 100 hurdles (18.30). Anna Engler was 4th in both the shot put (28’0.75”) and discus (85’2”), while Savannah Thomas finished 5th in the 400 (1:03.98), 7th in 200 (30.47) and 8th in 300 hurdles (58.05).